RSPCA Animal Futures

In this special edition recorded live at the 2025 Wilberforce Lecture we tackle technology unleashed.  From de-extinction, gene editing, robot pets, AI conversations with animals to alternative proteins, how do we harness technology to create a better world for animals? Host Kate Quilton is joined by special guests Melanie Challenger, RSPCA Vice President, writer, researcher and broadcaster,...

Steve Backshall MBE has loved nature from almost the very first moment he could move around. Since then, nature has given him a career - but also remains one of his favourite ways to spend his spare time, to support his wellbeing and to enjoy life with his family. But why is nature so important to him, and his children? And how can it compete with the television screens and smart phones always vyi...

Society has always been fascinated by the prospect of one day being able to talk to animals. But if we did all turn into Dr. Dolittle overnight, what would animals want to tell us? And would we like what they have to say? And amid the growth of artificial intelligence, will we soon be able to communicate better with our animals than ever before? Or is the proliferation of bad advice online, and th...

The wonders of nature, including the wild animals that share our spaces, are undeniable. And the great outdoors can be so good for us - mentally, and physically; helping people to appreciate the importance of animal welfare, and the natural world around us, in so many ways. But why is nature so important for us? And is everyone sharing the benefits right now? And if not, does society need to do so...

The terms 'animal rights' and 'animal welfare' are often used interchangeably - but they can actually mean very different things. But what are animal rights, and how do they differ from good animal welfare? And what might a society that embraces animal rights look like, and is it realistic? Broadcaster and journalist Kate Quilton chats to Dr Sean Butler, who lectures Animal Rights Law at Cambridge...

With the world's population growing, and so many farm animals needed to keep everyone fed, is our food system sustainable? And what are the consequences for animal welfare? Broadcaster and journalist Kate Quilton chats to Riley Jackson, Head of Partnerships and Marketing at Ivy Farm Technologies, about one possible alternative - lab-grown, cultivated meat; and whether it could revolutionise where...

Broadcaster and journalist Kate Quilton speaks to entrepreneur and CEO of Ageless Innovation Ted Fischer and animal behaviour specialist Dr Leanne Proops, Associate Professor in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Portsmouth, about the role of robot pets and what it could mean for animals in future. Ted shares how robot pets can transform the lives of older people experiencing isolat...

Journalist and broadcaster Kate Quilton introduces Animal Futures - a new podcast from the RSPCA. The show explores what the future might look like for animals and how the choices we make now could impact the world they - and us - enjoy in decades to come. Kate talks to expert guests on topics including robot pets and AI and how they could impact our relationship with animals, what alternative mea...